TAKE YOUR TIME
‘Not enough time, too much to do’ is how most of our productivity conversations start.
But, when we look deeper, we find that time is not the enemy. The more we fight time, the less of it we have. If you feel like time is always running away from you, that you never seem to have enough time, if you’re constantly busy, rushing round after other people, wondering when you’ll ever have some time to yourself, if you are waiting for when you have more time, I have three words for you:
Take your time.
Here’s why. When we don’t have enough time we rush.
When my daughter tries to wriggle her foot into her snug winter boots without losing her balance and my son tugs and fiddles with his laces, I find myself saying, ‘It’s ok, take your time.’ Because if they rush it gets harder, and more frustrating, and takes longer.
When we don’t have enough time we hold back or give up. What have you told yourself you’ll do when you have time? What would you love to do if only you had the time? Rest, sleep, me time, read a book, write a book, take a holiday, go for a walk, upgrade the software, expand the business, take the risk, train, delegate, think, plan, prepare, go for a run, be still… So often, the things we put off are the things that would add meaning, simplicity or joy to our lives. The things that make life better and time worthwhile. So many people wait. They wait for the work to finish, the demands to stop, the constant busyness to slow down, so they can finally have time to do what they want to do. And yet that time never comes, because the work never stops and there’s always more to do.
When we don’t have enough time we faff, we procrastinate, we look for distraction. Something to scratch the itch, to quell the sound of the clock ticking, to make us feel like we’re doing something. Yet, often, when we just sit with it, take our time, for what might seem like forever but in reality is probably just 20 minutes, the momentum starts flowing and we get it done.
When we don’t have enough time, we can miss the moments. As the saying goes, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. When we obsess over counting the seconds, we can miss the moments. Moments of profound joy and intense silliness, roaring laughter and peaceful silence, heartwarming connection and satisfying rest. Whether it’s the simple pleasures or crazy adventures, these are the moments that make life worth living. These are the moments to take our time over.
The truth is, we have time – and we choose how we spend it.
As one workshop delegate recently put it, ‘If I choose to look at my work emails at the weekend and see something that upsets me, I’m the one who has chosen to let emails ruin my weekend. It’s my choice, not anybody else’s.’ The uncomfortable truth is, if you never seem to have any time for yourself, your agenda and what matters to you, you’re choosing not to give any time to yourself.
We make that choice, by what we say yes and no to, what we commit to and what we fail to commit to, what we make ourselves available for, and what we pay attention to. It’s our time, to use or to give away as we choose. And the beauty is, when we stop seeing time as something that runs away without us, when we start taking our time, we choose how we experience that time.
We can’t change time, but we can change our experience of it. Sometimes time flies, sometimes it drags and that’s nothing to do with the seconds, minutes and hours, but everything to do with what we choose. So here’s what I propose. Let’s stop talking about time like there’s not enough, like it’s some unstoppable tsunami that we’re trying to wrestle into submission.
If you feel like life is doing you, rather than the other way round, take your time. It’s yours to do as you choose. You are in control. You really are.
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time that never seems to come, Take your time. It’s yours, my darling. Take it, run with it, play with it, live it.
If you’re dealing with new ground, ill health or challenging circumstances that mean you’re not going as fast as you would like, it’s ok. You’re doing great. Give yourself the space. Be patient, be kind. Take your time. You’ll get there.
And if you’re taking time off, take it, savour it, enjoy every moment. Don’t count it by seconds, measure it by moments. Enjoy every moment.
Whatever your circumstances, whatever lies before you, here’s my challenge and my invitation.
Take your time.
